News

15th August 2008

SAFED technique is a winner in the GreenFleet Capital Fuel Challenge!

SAFED (Safe And Fuel Efficient Driving) techniques proved to be the key success factor in the GreenFleet Capital Fuel Challenge last month.

Two SAFED trained and qualified drivers took to the streets of London in a Citroen C2 Diesel van to compete against 23 other teams in an ambitious treasure-hunt challenge in which participants had to negotiate their way across London to pick up objects from four checkpoints, travelling a minimum of 24 miles. Winners were selected from teams who achieved the best results for producing as little CO2 as possible and using the least energy

The results, which were announced last week revealed that SAFED achieved a place in the top five of the Private Sector category and also came top for diesel vehicles in the same category despite having travelled an additional two miles more than the next best performing diesel entry.

SAFED team driver and Marketing Manager, Tonia Smreczak said “This challenge was a great way to demonstrate the impact SAFED can have on your environmental performance and - importantly - your fuel costs. The challenge highlighted the problems that many van drivers face up and down the country every day – heavy traffic which meant there was a lot of stopping and starting, numerous hazards to watch out for, and we were on a time limit. For us, SAFED training meant that we had the skills to compensate for these difficulties, and we could ensure a positive result using a range of advanced driving techniques, such as using fewer gear changes, softer acceleration and braking and better distance management from other road users”

As a result of the GreenFleet Capital Fuel Challenge win, SAFED is now eligible to win the prestigious Transport for London Capital Fleet of the Year, which will be announced at the GreenFleet Awards on September 25th 2008.

SAFED is a driver development programme aimed at improving safe and fuel-efficient driving techniques. SAFED has been seen to achieve a significant reduction in fuel consumption - an average 16% saving on the training day.

SAFED training is currently available for light commercial vehicle (LCV) drivers, aggregates vehicle drivers and heavy goods vehicle drivers with part funding available from the Government for LCVs and aggregates drivers.

21st February 2008

Funded SAFED training still available

There are still part-funded places available on the Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) scheme. The scheme was originally launched in 2006 and has proved immensely popular with over 7,500 drivers having been trained to date. This, along with excellent overall results in achieving safer & greener driving, led to the DfT committing a further £1.2 million in September 2007, to train more van drivers.

There are over 2.5 million registered vans in the UK all with at least one driver. Using an average annual mileage figure of 24,067, clocked up by the participants of the scheme in 2006, the full potential if all van drivers adopted SAFED for Vans could be:

• total annual cost savings £1,064 million
• total annual environmental savings of CO2 of 3 million tonnes

In 2006 Safed for Vans was found to unlock savings to business of up to £500 per driver and reduce fuel consumption by up to 16%. This was achieved simply by providing drivers with the additional driving techniques that promote fuel efficiency and prolong the life of the vehicle therefore reducing the need for repair and replacement. The scheme also confirmed that on average safe and fuel-efficient driving didn’t increase journey time .

SAFED for Vans is a one-day off-the-job training course, which involves a mix of classroom and on the road tuition with each driver that passes being awarded a Certificate of Achievement. By undertaking the training, drivers can also help reduce their risk of accidents and gain a better understanding of the thought processes involved in reading the traffic and road conditions ahead while driving smoothly, safely and economically.

Fleet managers and van drivers interested in finding out how SAFED for Vans could benefit their business should visit www.safed.org.uk and navigate to the “find a trainer” page or call 0870 190 8440

SAFED for Vans case studies can be found on: http://www.safed.org.uk/SAFEDVans/caseStudies.htm

A series of case studies and guides have also been published by the DfT funded Freight Best Practice programme: http://www.freightbestpractice.org.uk/pubsub.aspx?SectionID=2

12 September 2007

Extra £1.2million to Turn White Van Man Green

Secretary of State for Transport, Ruth Kelly, today announced an extra £1.2million to train van drivers in greener, safer driving techniques.

The Safe and Fuel Efficient Drivers (SAFED) scheme aims to encourage driving techniques that save fuel, thereby cutting costs and CO₂ emissions. Since its launch, the Department for Transport has invested nearly £2.2million in the scheme.

The training has been immensely popular and so far the programme has trained nearly 7,800 drivers. Drivers who completed the training found they achieved an average 16% improvement in miles per gallon, giving a potential annual fuel saving of £3.3million and CO₂ emissions reduction of 9,350 tonnes, equivalent to an average of £425 for each van driver and a reduction for CO₂ emissions of around 1.2 tonnes.

Ruth Kelly said:

“White van man is turning green. By learning safe, fuel efficient driving techniques, van drivers are playing a vital role in cutting CO₂ emissions. They're helping tackle climate change, saving money and improving safety without impacting on customer delivery times

"I congratulate all the drivers who've done the training so far and urge others to do the same - it makes business and environmental sense."

The new money will part fund training for new instructors, new assessors and up to 6,500 drivers over the next three years.

SAFED is a one-day training course involving a mix of classroom and on-the-road tuition. It teaches drivers how techniques such as better use of gears and brakes (avoiding over-revving and unnecessary gear changes), keeping correct braking distances (not braking hard) and better road awareness (seeing junctions in good time) can improve both fuel efficiency and safety.

Fleet managers and van drivers interested in finding out how SAFED for Vans could benefit their business should visit www.safed.org.uk and navigate to the ‘find a trainer’ page, or call 0870 190 8440.

Press Enquires: 020 7944 3066

Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300

Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

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